The perils of contract locating

[TheCableVine]

I just heard a rumor today that a person inside the cable company that we locate for is campaigning to bring the locates in house. Oh brother.

They tried this once before and it didn't work out. It cost them too much and we can do it for less. We also pay for our own damages. They will have to absorb the cost of damages if they take it in house.

The 2nd thing with this is that when they do take it in house and they do decide it is too expensive we won't necessarily get the contract back. They have to put it up for bid and when they find someone they got to go through the hassle of getting everybody up to speed blah blah blah. What a waste of time. And who suffers in the end. That's right. ME.

It is just a rumor, though. It may not be true.

[ifinditunderground]

I hope it is Steve, good luck and keep us posted.

[OVUS1]

Seeing this more and more as utility companies struggle with looming employee layoffs and declining budgets. Some think they can simply bring this process "in-house" and assign their own people to do the work. Problem is that most in-house employees aren't used to production work, and when they find out that they have to do 20 sites a day just to keep up it becomes a real game changer.

Cossing fingers, eyes, and saying a solid prayer for your future Steve.

[TheCableVine]

I've always thought in recent months that we may lose the contract this summer. My reasoning? Times are tough and people cut back on expenses. To many, Cable TV is a luxury that has to go. I don't know if this is true and I'm actually a little curious at the moment if the cable company has cut back on installers. I may be wrong about this whole thing. They say that when times are tough bars and movie theaters do well. Maybe cable is taking the place of the theater.

[sprayandpray]

I've always thought in recent months that we may lose the contract this summer. My reasoning? Times are tough and people cut back on expenses. To many, Cable TV is a luxury that has to go. I don't know if this is true and I'm actually a little curious at the moment if the cable company has cut back on installers. I may be wrong about this whole thing. They say that when times are tough bars and movie theaters do well. Maybe cable is taking the place of the theater.

A good friend of mine is part owner of a bar and they are giving up the lease this year. They are drawing the same # of customers but the customers are spending about 1/2 of what they used to spend. It seems they tend to have more drinks at home b/4 they come to the bar and then leave a little earlier.

[boblocates]

The funny thing about cable tv companies...CATV bill is one of your monthly highest bills with the lowest cost to get that service to your house vs gas, electric or water to your house. The infrastructure and maintenance for the other utilities is HUGE...union workers ect...

Most homes pay 60 to 150 in cable/net services each month....even in a bad economy? Not sure we are in a depression relative to bread lines. That said...Catv going in house is only short term $$$$ thinking, with sub par locating (they fix and hide their damages), poor documentation (no pictures, tracking or sketch) and

I have read this many many times on the board....but maybe it is time to get away from utilities and locating for that matter. Or start to hold the Utility company to a much higher standard....instead of the "act of damage prevention" , but the actual prevention of damages. It takes a BIG damage, usually involving a fatality before a Utility Company will take locating seriously.

Time to get out maybe?

Just a thought...just a thought....

[Bad Robot]

Steve, whatever happens we know you will land on your feet OK. You've made it this long as a locator, therefore you cannot be killed with conventional weapons!

Hopefully this is just one of those late winter rumours we all deal with after the first of the year.

[locator00566]

You can always come wrok for USIC